News and Reviews: 16th July 2005

15 July 2005. Queen + Razorlight live at Hyde Park , London. Massive gig postponed for a week due to the London bombings . It was a very nice touch to give out loads of free tickets to police and nurses etc but that helped to plug the empty spaces at the back. Queen sold only 45,000 tickets compared to the 80,000 sell out from REM the following night at this venue. Razorlight did an ok set even though their sound swirled all over the place in the outdoors. Johnny the singer again went topless for most of the set. Comedian Peter Kay did a short set on his Brian Potter character which was very funny. Queen with Paul Rodgers did the same 2 hours 10 mins set they have been playing for the last few months all over the world. Starting with "Tie Your Mother Down " ."Wishing Well " , "Another One Bites The Dust", "Imagine" , "Hammer To Fall" , "Feel Like Making Love" . In the middle things sagged a bit as there were too many ballads and solos for such a big crowd. As darkness came down the lights kicked in for the last few songs "Radio GaGa " , "Cant Get Enough Of Your Love" ,"Its A Kind Of Magic" , "I Want It All " . The video images of Freddie Mercury singing "Bohemian Rhapsody " alongside the band worked superbly. Fab encores of " The Show Must Go On" ,"All Right Now" , " We Will Rock You" and "We Are The Champions" . The mix of Queen and Paul Rodgers related songs worked well and it was an enjoyable evening although Hyde Park is stil a rubbish venue ............ 13 July 2005. Al Green live at Hammersmith Apollo, London. Soul legend back in town again after last months sell out Albert Hall show. The upmarket crowd are hoping his sweet soul voice is still intact and it is. Tunes like "Lets Get Married " and 1970s classics like "Lets Stay Together " and "Here I Am " are superb. He gives out roses to the ladies all night long. Known for his short sets he leaves the stage after a paltry 70 mins and no encore which results in a few boos but every minute he was on stage was just pure soul quality......... 10 July 2005 .Jools Holland And His Rhythm And Blues Orchestra + Rick Parfiff Jr live at The Grand Prix After Race Party , Silverstone. This was held in the middle of the course after the Grand Prix and there is about 10,000 here. Its early start and early finish.4.30pm to 9pm. Rick Parfitt Jr is the son of the blonde one in Status Quo . He plays mainly covers like " Summer Of 69" and " Angels " and is passable in a Pop Idol way but his introduction on stage with the immortal line of " Rick is about to sign a major record deal " must be a joke surely. Jools Holland is someone i can take or leave to be honest .His boogie woogie bollocks reeks of outdoor picnic background music so thankfuly there is a party running as he is playing so 300 or so guests so we can have some lovely free barbeque grub and booze . He plays for 70 mins and is ok i suppose. At the party is racing drivers Damon Hill , David Coulthard, Johnny Herbert and Jenson Button but ole boy legend Jackie Stewart hangs around longer than all of them. I spotted rock stars Roger Daltrey and Chris Rea at the race but they did not turn up here . A very good day out overall though....... 09 July 2005. Oasis + Zutons live at The Bowl, Milton Keynes. The Zutons were a last minute replacement for Bayshambles who were kicked off the tour for not turning up at Southampton . They go down much better than Babyshambles anyway with their light bouncy tunes. Some forget that Oasis are still one of the biggest live acts in the UK with two shows here to 50,000 punters a night. One thing for sure at an outdoor Oasis gig is you will get covered by flying beer which is some sort of tradition at their gigs. The singing by the crowd to entire songs is why people love Oasis. In concert they will never be as good as U2 but they have got great tunes. "Lyla" , "Morning Glory" , "Cigarettes And Alchohol" , "Live Forever" , "Wonderwall" , "Champagne Supernova" ,"Rock N Roll Star" . Fantastic encores of " Dont Look Back In Anger" and The Whos " My Generation" . A really good 95 mins set ............... 08 July 2005 .Lionel Richie + Jaki Graham live at The Grand Prix Ball,Stowe House , Silverstone. Wow what an amazing evening this was . This was a full on black tie event where most had paid 1000 quid a ticket and there is around 2000 here. The venue was one of those amazing historic big places in the country with an impressive entrance.7pm Champagne reception then some celebs like Damon Hill and David Coulthard have a Dodgem Car Challenge .8pm Fantastic three course meal supervised by Jean -Christophe Novelli (yes him from the telly) .9pm Eighties singer Jaki Graham does a disco based set of cover versions and a couple of her hits like "Set Me Free " .At first i am thinking third rate Tina Turner but her smiley stage personality wins over the crowd. 9.30pm. Some major auction items inc a Gibson guitar signed by Jimmy Page .10.30pm. We are ushered out into the plush grounds to see a dozen bagpipers come out of the woods followed by a huge firework display .11.15pm Lionel Richie has flown in just for this show at a cost of 250k. He plays a superb hour set that the crowd love. "Easy", " Sail On " ,"Stuck On You" , "Dancing On The Ceiling" ,"Say You Say Me " , " Hello" , "Brickhouse" ,"Three Times A Lady" , "All Night Long" .He was totally excellent. Afterwards posh djs from Londons Panghea nightclub spin the sounds until nearly 3am and seven hours of unlimited booze was now kicking in. Des OConnor and PR guru Max Clifford were here. This was a top of the market corporate event promoted by www.elevationevents.co.uk If i tell that their Christmas Party in London on December 12 involves a live show by Robbie Williams you will understand they really do "elevate " themselves above other promoters...... 05 July 2005 .Nine Inch Nails live at Brixton Academy , London. This was the 2nd of a very impressive 4 sell out shows at this venue to promote new album " With Teeth" .There is only one colour tonight and that is black .All the crowd and the band are wearing black .Trent Reznor is still dedicated to the cause with a set lasting nearly 2 hours of industrial rock. "The Hand That Feeds" and "March Of The Pigs " were superb although you need to listen to their stuff a few times to really get into it.The two guitarists are flinging themselves across the stage and both smash up their guitars before the end of the show.Every song seems to feature a barrage of strobe lighting.The piano ballad " Hurt" was fantastic as was " Head Like A Hole" .Good show. See aftershow party page...... 04 July 2005. Madness live at The Scala ,London. Low key show to promote their new album of ska/reggae cover versions called "The Dangermen Sessions" .The venue is totally rammed as this is a small gig for a band of Madness stature. The lively 60 mins set inc classics from the album like " You Keep Me Hanging On " and "Israelites" .Also in there was " Prince Buster" and "Lola" and for the encores of " Night Boat To Cairo" and " Madness" i really was thinking these floorboards cannot take all this pressure as the crowd went crazy . As with anything Madness related ,to keep still is not an option. See aftershow party page......... An amazing two days at Hyde Park for the Live 8 Event and the rehearsals by some of the big bands on the previous evening ........ 02 July 2005 .Live 8 Concert At Hyde Park , London. 2pm to Midnight. Paul McCartney + Pink Floyd + The Who + Robbie Williams + Mariah Carey + Sting + Velvet Revolver + Scissor Sisters + Joss Stone + Killers + Snow Patrol + Madonna + Razorlight + Boomtown Rats + Snoop Dogg + UB40 + Annie Lennox + Travis + Keane + Ms Dynamite + REM + Stereophonics + Dido + Elton John + Coldplay + U2. An incredible event for the MAKE POVERTY HISTORY campaign . 150, 000 people in Hyde Park to watch over 20 of the worlds top acts play up to 4 songs each on a day with perfect weather conditions of not much sunshine but no rain whatsoever. I do not need to mention everything here as its all over the tv and newspapers. U2 , Coldplay and Elton John are on early as they all have big gigs elsewhere this evening. Quite surreal seeing Elton John being joined by Pete Doherty for a messy version of "Children Of The Revolution".None of the bands had any sound problems and the revolving stage meant most gaps between acts was only a few minutes. Each act played a short set of some of their best known songs. Annie Lennox and Snoop Dogg both went down much better than i expected. Bob Geldof got a great cheer when he performed " I Dont Like Mondays" . Earlier before i went in i saw Geldof in Park Lane with a 12 man security and police walking escort. The first half of the show i was at the front of general admission area and second half i was in the gold circle area where 15,000 guests , VIPS and comp winners get the best view of the stage without any crush.Madonna was fantastic for her three songs and it was a real moment when they brought out a woman who was a starving child from that Cars video 20 years ago at Live Aid who thanks to Bob and co is a real living success story. Scissor Sisters were the only act that dared to air a new song but it went down very well. As darkness fell i think the day belonged to the last four acts on the bill Robbie Williams , The Who, Pink Floyd and Paul McCartney as they could use the full stage lighting to great effect. Robbie was superb and his version of "Angels " as he walked in the stage pit near the fans was a real highlight. The Who were fantastic as well . The real event as such for the older male was Pink Floyd reunited with Roger Waters for the first time since 1981 after their bitter fued. Their four songs were stunning but i doubt if the Robbie loving females in the crowd would agree with that. Paul McCartney closed the show with a rousing few songs and a grand finale of " Hey Jude " with some of the other acts joining him although Robbie Williams and Madonna had left the building. Live Aid in 1985 was very special and although Hyde Park was not a patch on Wembley Stadium as a venue the whole day was an total success and one of those great " i was there shows" ........... 01 July 2005. Live 8 Rehearsals And Soundcheck at Hyde Park ,London. Pink Floyd + Madonna + Sting + Paul McCartney . This was just amazing as the concert the following night . Rehearsals And Soundcheck for some of the major acts we would see tomorrow 5pm to 10pm. We missed Annie Lennox and Mariah Carey . In front of a tiny crowd of maybe only 100 guests and event workers to watch Paul McCartney and band do a 45 mins set inc "Hi Ho Silver " ,"Coming Up" , " Get Back " ,"Drive My Car " (with George Micheal) , "The Long And Winding Road " and a couple of others.Next up Sting did four tunes inc "Message In A Bottle " and " Every Breathe You Take " .Although each act were told they had an hour each Madonna was on stage for a staggering 90 mins of stop and start. For her this was a proper dress rehearsal so the whole band , her backing choir and Madonna are all in the white outfits they used the following night .She went through all her three songs "Like A Prayer " ,"Ray Of Light" and " Music " 3 or 4 times each. Double checking dance routines and stuff like that. She was superb but with three members of Pink Floyd behind me looking at their watches as she ate into their rehearsal time it was going on too long for them. Next was a very special event .Pink Floyd with Roger Waters for the first time since 1981 . By now we are down the very front but still there is only 300 people here. Nice to see Formula One Champ Damon Hill down the front really excited to be seeing Floyd who are good mates of his. For ten mins they tune up and chat and then pow the light show kicks in and they play " Breathe" ,"Money" ,"Wish You Were Here" and " Comfortably Numb" over the next twenty minutes. Fantastic ......... 29 June 2005. Kasabian + Babyshambles live at Wireless Festival , Hyde Park , London. This was the last night of the four day Wireless Festival and i really hope it comes back next year. Babyshambles arrive late so their set is cut in half .Its all messy and half arsed and Pete Doherty is now beyond a joke - What A Waster. Kasabian have had a great past 12 months and they play a good 70 mins set based on their debut album. They sound and act like Oasis in parts and the tunes are good and their fans love it all........................ 28 June 2005 .Keane + Supergrass live at Wireless Festival ,Hyde Park , London. First up Supergrass have a great selection of well known songs but they will never be as good as they were a few years ago .Keane are the type of band you really only need to see once and once you have done that it is hard to get excited a second time. The singer comes on in black shirt and black trousers with a white belt .Now i know i am getting on a bit but even i reckon thats totally naff. The songs are catchy enough and radio friendly and the new ones sound just the same but its not rock n roll at all ..... Clear Channel launch www.getlive.co.uk their new interactive and ticketing site on 29 June........ The Guildford Festival takes place over the weekend of July 15,16,17 with headliners The Pogues, Alabama 3, Paul Weller , Echo And The Bunnymen , Status Quo and Marillion etc . Info And Tickets from www.guilfest.co.uk and 01483 454159............. Fancy a great festival in a great sunny beach location ?? well how about the stunning line up at this years Benicassim Festival near Valencia in Spain over 4 days Aug 4 ,5 ,6,7 with over 100 acts inc Oasis , Nick Cave, Keane ,Underworld, Basement Jaxx, Kasabian , Kaiser Chiefs etc. More info and tickets on www.fiberfib.com see you there as i will be going to it.......

Posted 16th July 2005